Posted on 06/13/2002 8:27:39 AM PDT by christine
Why I'm not a conservative
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
I've said it before and I'll say it, again: I am not a conservative.
This comes as a shock to some people. We have come to view politics in America in this paradigm of right vs. left, conservative vs. liberal, Republican vs. Democrat.
I tell you that is no choice at all.
I don't like the label "conservative." I reject the label. With all due respect to my "conservative" friends, I find the description detestable, extremely unflattering, simplistic and an insult.
Let me tell you why.
Conservatives, by definition, seek to conserve something from the past institutions, cultural mores, values, political beliefs, traditions.
What happens when a society moves so far from righteous values and freedom principles that there is little left to conserve?
That is where I believe America finds itself in the early part of the 21st century. Let me give you some examples of why:
the breakdown of the institutions of marriage and family;
the inability of many to distinguish between right and wrong;
the consolidation of power in Washington and in the executive branch;
the breakdown in the rule of law;
the usurpation of power by unaccountable supra-national agencies;
infringements on personal freedoms
increasing vulnerability to weapons of mass destruction and government's unwillingness or inability to address such a basic concept of defense; What do these and other problems our nation is facing have in common?
Today we have a federal government that acts without regard for the Constitution. What's the conservative prescription for that? Has "compassionate conservative" George W. Bush reversed unconstitutional government or continued it? Can you defeat unconstitutional government by putting your finger in the dike to prevent more?
No, it takes a radical agenda to defeat a radical agenda. Conservatives have no stomach for fighting the kind of fighting it takes to restore real freedom to America.
It's not a time for timidity or compromise. It's not a time for defensiveness and conciliation. It's time to take the offensive in this struggle.
I'm not a "conservative" because I see precious little left in this world worth conserving. Conservatives, from my experience, do not make good freedom fighters. They seem to think a victory is holding back attacks on liberty or minimizing them. They are forever on the defensive trying to conserve or preserve an apple that is rotten to the core.
What is the rotten apple? You can see it in the government schools that dumb down American kids. You can see it in the universities that pervert the concepts of knowledge and wisdom. You can see it in the federalization and militarization of law enforcement. You can see it in the proliferation of non-constitutional government. You can see it in the real "trickle-down economics" of confiscatory taxes. You can see it in the unaccountable authorities which give us global treaties. You can see it in the relentless attacks on marriage and the family. You can see it in euthanasia, population control and the phony "right" to abortion on demand. You can see it in the surrender of our national security.
It's all got to go. But how? Politics as usual will never get us there.
Conservatives, it seems to me, only forestall the inevitable slide into tyranny. I don't want to forestall it. I want to prevent it. I want to reverse that slide. I want to restore the dream that was America.
Was George Washington a conservative? No. He was a revolutionary. He is known throughout the world or was when people appreciated such concepts as the "father of freedom."
Today, those who stand for freedom, justice, the rule of law, self-government and the moral principles of the Bible are not part of "the establishment." We're the rebels. By the world's standards, we're the renegades.
The founding fathers knew that even the best designed government wouldn't work if the people were not righteous, moral and God-fearing if they didn't love liberty and cherish it.
To practice self-government again, we must have a people capable of self-government.
It takes courage to stand in the gap, to man the barricades, to say "enough is enough" and mean it. It takes more than a "conservative" vision to lead the way back to freedom.
redrock--Radical Constitutionalist
Then why do you seem to worry so much about them???
I see you on almost every thread like this...and always with the same asinine comment.
"..big picture of American politics.."
Ahh yes...the 'Big Picture'.
Where the Republicans and Democrats are almost impossible to tell apart.
Where Republicans get elected with the help of Americans who REALLY WANT the Constitution ENFORCED.
But once elected (ala GWB)..they turn their back on traditional 'conservative' values...and seemingly push the liberal aganda for all it's worth.
I know it is difficult...but actually take a look at what is happening in D.C.
It ain't pretty...
....and it sure as hell ain't 'conservative'
redrock
How true that is, Joseph Farah hit it on the head. That's why I call myself a "Constitutionalist" not a conservative.
I'm not worried. Like I said, their just a minor pain in arse. As long as these fringe extremists are more concerned about philosophy and ideology, then politics, they will lose election after election and remain insignificant.
>>>Where the Republicans and Democrats are almost impossible to tell apart.
I have no problems telling them apart.
Just like conservatives and libertarians, I have no problem telling them apart either.
>>>take a look at what is happening in D.C.
It ain't pretty...
....and it sure as hell ain't 'conservative'
Yea, poilitical gridlock sucks and 20 years of gridlock and stalmate, really sucks. I'm doing my part to get more conservative Republicans elected to office, retake the Senate and hold onto the House. What are you doing to fight Democrats and their liberal social agenda?
You mean the one that GWB is busy 'pushing'????
redrock
>>>You mean the one that GWB is busy 'pushing'????
That's the best you can do?! lol
...always sidestepping the ACTUAL issues ...
redrock
Who wouldn't? But just because they were in favor of the end, doesn't mean they were in favor of the means.
Ha! Well, I don't know about that, but I do agree with your statements above. The only chance we have of turning this thing around is to regain control of the Senate. Keep voting out the Democrats, regain contriol, and then we can worry about the RINOs.
565 posted on 6/5/02 9:06 PM Mountain by Jim Robinson
Jim Robinson's Speaks
I think every politically active conservative, on FreeRepublic should heed JimRob`s advice and get with the program. Attacking government officials you may disagree with, will not help to retake the Senate. Then again, if philosophy and ideology is more important to you, then winning political elections, your probably remain satisfied throwing stink bombs from the sidelines, instead of getting in the game.
I don't buy this at all. Of course they fight.
``It's all got to go.''
No, most of it has to go.
I suggest you brush up on exactly what has happened to your nation since LBJ and 1964.<<
Whoo, a little hot under the collar, are we?
First of all you have totally misynderstood and/or misrepresented what I said.
I do see all the erosion you speak of, your smartass remarks notwithstanding. However, I make a distinction from all the crooks in Washington and conservatives at the grassroots level. I don't consider the jelly-spined weenies in Washington "conservatives." I consider them "liars."
You have made a lot of hotheaded assumptions, based on pure ignorance of my position.
I again assert that to attack a "label" (i.e. we need a new label besides "conservative") is an exercise in stupidity.
Good day t'ya.
Conservatives elected in 94 did achieve great goals. But our own COUNTRY had no stomach for them.
Now, do you realize that we have to fight the liberal agenda peicemeal...until we gain the Senate? And then...we have to go soooo slowly in the legislature and toss it to the judicial...which controls things anyway. LOL
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